Dire Days - Task 2

Ya know, for a girl who doesn’t like the cold I seemed to be out in the snow A LOT recently. That is where I am now, knee deep in snow up on the Tartok mountain searching for the dire pack in hopes of bonding with one.

I sigh as I trudge through the snow, the trees around me covered with muted greens and whites. I had heard of a location the dires may be at, back at the base and now I am on my way there. This time I am without my companion, Angel, I know she will probably be angry with me when she wakes up but taming is something I need to do myself. I don’t want to risk spooking the beautiful merle with the lavender eyes. Those eyes have been in my dreams ever since Angel and I came into contact with the trio only two days ago.

“Really, no one could have warned me about this!?” I yell motioning wildly to the large cliff infront of me. There in my path lay a large cliff about a story high, luckily it was slanted enough that I could easily free climb, I just hope the stone is strong enough to hold my weight. “Alright, here goes nothing.” I whisper gripping onto the side of the cliff and taking my first lift up.

My muscles burn as I reach the middle of the cliff, I can’t remember the last time I truly went climbing like this and I begin to regret my decision. With a huff I throw myself up to the next handhold, praying that it was enough to get me there. My hand closes around the hold and for a couple seconds I dangle there, catching my breath as I send up a thank you to whatever angel may be watching over me.

It took another ten or so minutes until I was able to drag my weary, exhausted body over the top of the cliff. “Made it!” I whisper, laying on my back. I look up at the sky and to my delight not a single cloud was in sight. “Alright, enough rest. I need to get five miles Northeast before darkness comes.” I growl, lifting myself up to my feet to continue on my journey.

I thank myself that my father had pushed me to work out when I was younger, ever since I was little I had been running and if it weren’t for that I didn’t think I could continue the journey. I revel in the feel of my calves, the steady burn that sears through their insides as I continue to trudge through the snow. I make good time, getting to my checkpoint in only four and a half hours and there infront of me lies a great valley. “So this is the valley the dires have been seen traveling through.” I whisper, spotting a good overhang to make camp in.

It didn’t take too long for me to skitter across the valley and up onto the small overhang, the view gave me a good look at most of the small valley. “Hopefully there is some action tonight.” I say, as I begin to make camp. I slide off my backpack and begin digging, pulling out the essentials to start a fire and create a small shelter. A yawn forms as I finish stoking the fire, but I need to find more wood before anything. So with a mental shake I climb to my feet and venture off.

It doesn’t take very long for me to find some decent wood and soon I am back on my overhang piling it up. “Alright, that won’t last me all night but using it sparingly it should last most of them time and I can continue on at first light.” I say to myself as I crawl into my sleeping bag by the edge of the overhang. My back is to the fire, eyes searching the ground below me for any signs of movement when a small black figure moves in the shadows. I lift myself up onto my elbows as I track the figure, it’s colors becoming more and more pronounced as it gets closer. “That’s him!”

I am out of my sleeping bag and down the overhang in moments, patting my belt to make sure the treats are still there. With a nod I continue on, creeping towards the dire only feet away from me. I make enough noise to make sure the dire knows I am there, knowing that sneaking up on one could be bad. As I round a tree I smile, seeing the large merle laying on the ground. I reach into my belt pouch and palm the treats, stepping into the small meadow the merle has set up as home. “Hey there boy… long time no see.” I coo gently stepping out into the opening.

The merle spins, his hackles raising at the sight of me but no sound releases from his lips. “Remember me pretty boy? We met a couple days ago… You were so gorgeous that I couldn’t help but find you again.” I laugh, my tone light and calm as I pull the treats slowly from my pocket. “Here,” I hold out the treats hoping to draw the dire closer but he stayed where he was, head cocked to the side. I raise a treat to my mouth and take a small bite, while I successfully keep the scowl from my face I am unable to suppress the shudder. “See, it is good… it’s food.”

I throw a treat towards the Tokota gently and watch as he bends to sniff it, gently snapping it up his lavender eyes never leaving mine. “See good isn’t it?” I say as I toss another treat towards him, this time a little closer. We do this a couple times and soon he is within touching distance. I take a deep breath and raise my hand, hovering parallel to the ground. My smile fades when I hear a familiar howl in the distance, the large male gives a small growl whipping around towards the sound. “Easy boy she belongs to me.” I coo reaching out to touch him but snap my hand back when he spins back to me, a snapping at my flesh.

I watch as Angel enters the clearing, sending the merle off with a flash light grey tail. “Dang it Angel!! I almost touched him.” I call out eyes narrowed at my very angry Tokota. I give a nervous chuckle and step back. “Woah easy there girl… I was safe! Nothing happened to me.” Angel steps closer, easily closing the distance between us as she gets in my face, a hot puff of breath hitting me. I felt bad for lying to her and I fear the damage she may have caused getting out of the compound but I had to do this on my own. “CALM ANELA!!! I had to do this on my own! I wasn’t able to get close enough with you right there all growly so I. left. You. I know we are normally partners but you. Are. Mine. We have gone through too much right now for you to start going through your teenage years!” I rant throwing my arms around wildly.

I watched as realization sunk into my Tokota and she deflated. “That’s my girl.” I coo leading her back to my camp. She was able to jump up high enough to get on the overhang and soon we were asleep, enjoying the warmth of the fire and each other.